Cheapside Park Civil War statues: What should happen?

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – What should happen to two Civil War statues that are outside the Main Street courthouse in Lexington?

The Urban County Arts Review Board is working to decide the statues’ fate.

The John Hunt Morgan and John C. Breckinridge statues have been there for more than a century. Both men were Confederate Generals during the Civil War. Breckinridge was also once Vice President of the United States.

Their placement came into question after a national debate over Confederate symbols. Mayor Jim Gray asked the Urban County Art Review Board to look into them.

Wednesday afternoon experts, mostly local historians and professors, weighed in.

There was a variety of opinions but most agree something needs to be done.

Some believe the statues need to be moved entirely from the downtown area others believe they should stay and opinions varied between those two extremes.

There will be a public meeting Monday night about the statues. The board will then meet again before making its recommendation to the Urban County Council.